mikebv

I think bringing riders in who are unattached is a much better "look" for the sport... You cannot use averages all year and then not use them just because something may not look right to some... As long as Rider A has an equal or lower average than the one he replaces then all is fair game for me... At least it makes the sport look professional and in line with other sports, and also makes it look like winning the competition has kudos, is something worth winning, and will stimulate plenty of interest!! It wouldn't take much to work an algorithm average for each level of rider from BZ down, and there would also need to be caveats such as the missing rider mustn't ride elsewhere, and be injured/ill tll the seasons end (eg like Fricke when Lambert replaced him)... If Emil got injured and missed the play offs, then Lambert, Madsen, Dudek etc would be much better "like for like" replacements than anyone from the bottom three teams, and a much more credible move for a pro sport... Wroclaw brought in Charles Wright when Tai got injured and he then subsequently got injured, which meant Wroclaw got hammered in the final, but, for the greater good of the competition, they couldn't bring a "ringer" in, which meant the status of their league stayed top level, maintaining TV and "major" sponsor involvement... UK Speedway needs to aspire to that level of professional credibility, and, somehow, find a way of achieving it...

Would the fact we still don't know the teams riding in the play offs penalise that priority? Sweden can obviously name the teams scheduled...

The golden era was very much led by World Of Sport having an English Golden Generation on the International stage with which to sell the domestic sport... Winning Team World Cups often, and having PC riding like he did so regularly, was a perfect advert for the sport... And in the pre internet days you mainly found out riders were missing only when you entered the stadium, so "too late" to decide whether it was worth visiting or not... That "necessary evil" has now unfortunately morphed into a fundamental part of the operating model.. I have seen on here mention of giving out one point each for a meeting called off, (ianb?), and many dismissed this idea.. However, if last Thursdays meeting had been declared a draw (like cricket would have), I wonder if llosing several grand in payments may have been "very influential" in their decision to ride or not...? And also, focus promoters on protecting their tracks and preparing them better...?

Then no one can ever wonder why the sport isn't taken seriously by the mainstream media... The same would happen in Poland if they ever adopted the UK system.. This has resulted in massively one sided finals when teams have injuries... However, in "proper sports" injuries are seen as part and parcel of what happens and some get lucky and some don't... Poland realise a one sided final still has integrity and will maintain the credibility of their competition .. Thus, keeping media, sponsors and fans engaged... Also, if Sheffield are missing Jack Holder then the next two in the averages should be able to take all his rides, they could do this, and their own rides, and still do Ht 15, if the manager wanted it that way... Many guests get used due to the RR system not being fit for purpose...

With the answer being from some on here.... "Well, that's just the way it is!"......

Then just accept the competition will always be devalued.... Not a great selling point to media, sponsors or fans is it?...

A legacy of the Tigers having three meetings to cram in... It isn't a good look for the sport is it that, once again, we have another self inflicted guestfest when a 12 match home season starts in April...? The guest system simply makes it far too easy to run the sport poorly given its a basic "get out of jail free" card to be played.... The bottom line is, once again, a meeting has been planned in knowing riders are elsewhere, and can be replaced by your rivals employees, with the only clear message it sends out being... "It isn't really that important this competition is it?"...

I get where you are coming from... Integrity has always been something many have considered "lacking somewhat" for a long, long time.. That lack of independent administration will always hold the sport back given turkeys won't ever vote for Xmas...

Agree... But that first timer needs to be treated differently than they get treated currently... Kids clubs should be a basic at every track, with the aim of getting anyone circa 12 and under signed up... Easy to do if you are providing free tickets... That way you can keep in contact with the family, and, hopefully, get them to make repeat visits... Even if it is at a reduced admission... These people are not there now, so nothing to lose and all to be gained...

Whatever they do, the must have the plan to get more people into their tracks... By whatever means necessary... Big crowds means better atmosphere, and better atmosphere means better meetings (regardless of the actual racing quality), and delivers that virtuous circle of people wanting to attend again... And interests potential sponsors and media... Most races, regardless of whether GP or NDL riders are racing, are from the gate and strung out, and has been that way since I started watching in 1969... The difference being the size of the crowd maintains the atmosphere which then generates the repeat visits... Although, the caveat is it also must be allied to you having an emotional attachment to your team, which currently isn't the case given so many times "your team" are not really "your team".... Kurtz and Bewley are great to watch on a Monday, but, I would almost guarantee, many more would watch them on a Friday or Saturday... Which shows that those nights are key... The challenge therefore is to use those nights more.. The personnel on show may be different though than what many "die hards" would want to watch, but there isn't enough of them currently to justify continuing on the same pathway... Alternatively of course, they could just run the sport properly and make the sport credible with some decent reward and kudos for winning, and have an admiisson cost, and marketing strategy that brings people in.. And, therefore keep doing it on a Monday and a Thursday.. That though, so far, has proved somewhat elusive hasn't it?...

And, to someone with a couple of young kids, who has heard of the sport but currently doesnt attend their local track due to the cost of admission... Simon Lambert is just as well known as Emil....

We should really try and do it over here shouldn't we? Nothing to lose...

Pressure all on the Witches given you don't get many opportunities to build a team so much over the limit... (Great planning by the way)... One injury to either of their top two will destroy them though given the guest replacements from the bottom three teams... And RR would by a huge risk given the "engine room" can go missing... Leicester still the dark horses for me, with Sheffield's home track advantage (so many seem to hate the place), could also prove decisive. The Aces top three need almost four perfect meetings for them to have a chance given their bottom four are miles out of their depth at the highest, play off, level... If Fricke stays fit, Leicester to win...

He changed it into a swimming pool....

His reactions to situations are the best I have ever seen... That is why he goes into places that others would never dare to.... Early in his career I thought he was being, at times, reckless, and would eventually pay dearly for his high risk, high reward strategy... Now, I realise he was (is) just very special so was supremely confident he could handle these situations.. I would say only Trick is up there with such lightening reactions where they both could almost lock up to avoid incidents, but still keep momentum and speed... You can never accurately say who is the best ever, given so many variables down the years, but he is certainly a very special talent...

But they do have plenty of water!!!!

BZ, for me, would be in the Fundin, Craven, Briggs, Mauger, Olsen, Collins, Penhall, Nielsen, Trick, Gundersen, Crump,, Hancock and Pedersen pantheon of "all time greats" from the 50's onwards.. You could drop BZ into any era and he would be very, very special... I remember ten years or so BZ being marked out as a future World Champ.. They weren't wrong were they?

You can't... But.... This lad would be pushing any of the all time greats..... Given he is already one of them...

The top two, head and shoulders above the rest... One being quite probably the GOAT... A non event without Brady.... First season too... Fair play, whatever happens in Vojens...

And how much water Fireman Phil puts on the track... You will definitely need goggles, or maybe even a diving mask......

Knob.... Apologies... I have just read you attack the post not the poster... (Knob)...

Joe Screen and Mark Loram.....

Come on Dan.... Turn right.....

And Phil will still drench it....

One of the best tracks in the world and made to look like something nothing anywhere near that level...